Electrical anti-personnel weapon



March 26, 1968 G. A. WALL ELECTRICAL ANTI-PERSONNEL WEAPON Filed Jan.26, 1965 Patented Mar. 26, 1968 3,374,708 ELECTRICAL ANTI-PERSONNELWEAPON George A. Wall, North Carver, Mass.; Eileen T. Wall, executrix ofsaid George A. Wall, deceased, assignor to Eileen T. Wall, North Carver,Mass.

Filed Jan. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 428,096 11 Claims. (Cl. 89-1) ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE An electrical anti-personnel method and apparatus. Themethod comprises electrically energizing a stream of conductive liquidand directing the stream at a person. The apparatus comprises a pair ofconductive liquid sources, a pair of conduits, a pair of nozzles, and apair of conductive means contacting the liquid, each pair of elementsseparate from the other, whereby a pair of oppositely charged streams ofliquid may be directed against a person.

This invention relates to a method and to a weapon for the deterrence ofhostile persons by electrical means. More particularly this inventionrelates to a method and to a weapon for transmitting electricity viaunconfined streams of electrically charged liquids to persons in remotepositions from the operator of such apparatus.

Generally speaking, the method comprises directing at least one unbrokenand unconfined, ballistic stream of electrically energized conductiveliquid at a remote person for deterring hostile activities and advancesby such a person. The apparatus for practicing this method, in general,comprises at least one source of pressurized conductive liquid connectedto means for directing said liquid to a remote object in an unbrokenstream. Also provided are means adapted for energizing the liquid, suchmeans being adapted for conveying tn electrical current from a powersource to said liquid.

Other objects, advantages and features will appear from the followingdetailed description of the invention taken together with theaccompanying drawings, in which. FIG. 1 is a side elevation of apparatusembodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevation of the apparatus insection;

FIGS. 5, 6, 8 and 9 are circuit diagrams for use in preferredembodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmetary circuit diagram showing the induction coil ofFIGS. and 6 in a circuit broken condition.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 14thereof, it will be seen that in the preferred embodiment of theapparatus two sources 14, 16 of conductive liquid are provided. In thepreferred embodiment the liquid is provided in pressurized containershaving electrical insulating, non-corrosive properties, but it iscontemplated that the sources may be from any pressure source, such as apump, provided only that each source be separate and insulated lestthere be a short circuit making the apparatus inoperative. The liquid isconductive and may be water containing an electrolyte, such as ordinarysea water or water mixed with sulphuric acid, which has been usedsuccessfully. The liquid may also contain thickening or other agentssuch as methyl cellulose or cellulose gum to prevent too early a breakin streams of the liquid.

The liquid sources 14, 16 are connected in pressure sealed relationshipto either side of the cross bracket 12 of a preferably pistol shapeddevice generally designated 10. The bracket 12 includes sealed pressurechambers 33 above each of the liquid sources into which the liquidflows. The chambers 33 each include a seal element at the rear thereofand a valve 31, 32 at the front thereof, the valves each normally beingurged by spring means 28 to a closed position. Actuating linkage meansfor selectively opening the valves 31, 32 are also provided includingrods 25, 26 connected at one end to the valves 31, 32 and at their otherends extending through the seal elements 30 for connection to cross rod27. The actuating linkage means also includes link 24 pivotallyconnected at one end to the rod 27 and at the other end to a triggermechanism 22 at a point remote from the upper end of the trigger 22. Thetrigger 22 is pivotally connected at the upper end thereof to theinternal structure of the pistol 10 and at its lower end protrudes fromthe pistol for digital actuation. On actuation of the trigger the valves31, 32 are thus opened to permit the flow of liquid from the sources 14,16.

Leading from the valves 31, 32 at the front of the chambers are conduits34, 35 leading to simple nozzles 18, 20 adapted for directing thepressurized liquids from the pistol 10 is unbroken, unconfined,ballistic streams. The nozzles are laterally spaced from each other onthe bracket 12 and are arranged to provide streams which do not convergewithin their effective range, i.e. the range at which the streams remainunbroken. Likewise, the nozzles are arranged so that the streams aresufficiently close together as to be capable of simultaneously strikingthe hostile person against which they are directed. Preferably thenozzles will be arranged to provide parallel streams embodying theselimitations but in this specification the word parallel when used todescribe such arrangements will be understood to include non-parallelnozzles and streams which embody the foregoing limitations.

Preferably the conduits and nozzles are of materials having electricalinsulating properties. Interposed between the conduits and nozzles anddisposed for contacting the liquid flowing through the pistol areconductive elements such as tubes 19, 21 adapted to convey an electriccharge to the liquid as it flows thereby.

Except for elements 19, 21 and the electrical connections to bedescribed and possibly the trigger 22 and the springs 28, all of theelements of the pistol 10 per se are preferably of non-conductive,non-corrosive materials, for reasons of safety and for the prevention ofshort circuits. In any event, the liquid sources and elements 19, 21 areinsulated from each other and from the external portions of the pistol10.

Connected to tube elements 19, 21 and extending therefrom through thebody of the pistol are wires 42, 44 adapted for conveying electricity tothe tubes 19, 21 and hence for energizing the liquids flowingtherethrough. Wires 42, 44 extend throughthe handle 56 of the pistoltogether with wires in the form of a cable 39 and are adapted forconnection to a power source generally designated 46.

The power source 46 is preferably portable and adapted to be carried bythe operator of the apparatus (not shown). The power source 46 includeswires 40, 41 adapted for connection to a source of either an AC or DCcurrent, preferably the latter and preferably a battery 48. The circuitdiagram for the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 5and includes induction coil 50 for stepping upthe voltage in thesecondary circuit, represented by the wires 42, 44, from that in theprimary circuit, represented by the wires 40, 41. To permit operation ofthe coil in the DC current provided in the FIG. 5 embodiment, an ironcore 51 is provided in the coil 50 to periodically interrupt the primarycircuit, which is normally completed through the armature 52, byattracting the armature 52 as in FIG. 7 away from its contact. Condensermeans 54 are provided in the primary circuit between the armature 52 andwire 40 to prevent sparking and undue wear as the armature is actuated.A switch 38 is also provided in the primary circuit for completing anddisconnecting the circuit. Preferably this switch 38 is located in thehandle 56 of the apparatus 10, wires 40 extending from the power source46 in cable 39 to the switch 38, and is adapted for completing theprimary circuit as the trigger 22 is actuated to open the valves 31-,32. Preferably the coil 50 may be adjusted, via selector 49 on anaccessible portion of the power source 46, to vary the voltage in thesecondary circuit.

Alternative arrangements of the circuits are shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9in which the circuits are essentially the same as that in FIG. exceptthat in FIG. 8 an AC current is used permitting elimination of the core,armature and condenser. FIGS. 6 and 9 disclose embodiments in which buta single stream of liquid is energized in which case one end of thesecondary circuits is grounded at 45 via wire 44. FIG. 6 otherwise isidentical to the circuit in FIG. 8.

To convey an electric charge to a hostile individual, the trigger 22 isactuated to open valves 31, 32 and to close the switch 38 completing theprimary electrical circuit. High voltage electricity, which may bevaried by means of selector 49, is then transmitted via tubes 19, 21 tothe streams of liquid flowing therethrough, preferably each streamhaving simultaneously an opposite electrical charge. The streams arethen directed at the hostile individual whom it is desired to deterprovided only that the person be sufficiently close to the apparatus 10,that the liquid streams remain unbroken until contact with the person.Upon contact of the oppositely charged streams with the individual, thesecondary circuit is completed through the individual via the oppositelycharged streams extending from elements 19, 21 causing at least somediscomfort. If but a single stream is energized, proper grounding of thehostile person may be assured to complete the circuit extending fromelement 19 via the stream to the person by directing sufficient liquidto assure good contact between the person and ground the other end ofthe circuit being to ground 45 as shown in FIG. 6.

By means of this method and apparatus, therefore, it is possible toprovide for deterrence of hostile persons electrically without thenecessity of dangerous physical proximity.

Other embodiments within the following claims will occur to thoseskilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of deterring a hostile person by electrical means whichcomprises the steps of:

providing at least one unbroken and unconfined ballistic stream ofconductive liquid;

electrically energizing said stream; and

directing said stream at said person from a point remote therefrom.

2. The method claimed in claim 1 having as an additional step thegrounding of said person by directing sufficient liquid at said personto assure contact between said person and ground.

3. The method of deterring a hostile person by electrical means whichcomprises the steps of:

providing a plurality of parallel, unbroken and unconfined ballisticstreams of conductive liquid; electrically energizing each of saidstreams; and directing said streams at said person from a point remotetherefrom.

4. The method claimed in claim 3 having as an additional step thegrounding of said person by directing sufficient liquid at said personto assure contact between said person and ground. 7

5. The method of deterring a hostile person by electrical means whichcomprises the steps of:

providing a pair of parallel unbroken and unconfined ballistic streamsof conductive liquid;

electrically energizing each of said streams simultaneously with acharge of opposite sign from that of the other of said streams; and

directing each of said streams simultaneously at said person from apoint remote therefrom.

6. An electrical anti-personnel device comprising:

at least one source of pressurized conductive liquid;

nozzle means for directing said liquid in a stream at remote hostilepersonnel;

conduit means between said nozzle means and said source for conveyingsaid liquid to said nozzle means;

conductive means positioned in said device for contacting said liquid;and

electrical circuit means connected to said conductivemeans for conveyingan electrical charge from a source of electrical power to saidconductive means thereby to energize said liquid in contact with saidconductive means. 7

7. An anti-personnel device comprising:

a plurality of separate sources of pressurized conductive liquid;

separate nozzle means, disposed in parallel relation to each other, onefor each of said sources, for directing said liquid therefrom in streamsat remote hostile personnel;

separate conduit means between each of said nozzle means and each ofsaid sources for conveying said liquid from each of said sources to saidnozzle means;

separate conductive means positioned in said device for contacting saidliquid from each of said sources; and

electrical circuit means connected to said conductive means forconveying an electrical charge from a source of electrical power to saidconductive means thereby to energize said liquid in contact with saidconductive means. I

8. The anti-personnel device claimed in claim 7 wherein said pluralityof sources of liquid comprises a pair of sources.

9. The anti-personnel device claimed in claim 8 wherein valve means areinterposed between each of said conduit means and said sources of liquidand wherein actuating means, adapted for manual actuation to open andclose said valve means, are connected to said valve means.

10. The anti-personnel device claimed in claim 9 wherein said deviceincludes switch means adapted for connection to and for operating saidsource of electric power, said switch means also being adapted foractuation by said actuating means to operate said source of electricpower and thus to energize said liquid from each of said sources thereofwhen said actuating means is actuated to open said valve means.

11. An anti-personnel device comprising:

a pair of separate sources of pressurized conductive liquid;

a plurality of separate nozzle means disposed in parallel relationshipto each other, one for each of said sources, for directing said liquidtherefrom in streams at remote hostile personnel;

separate conduit means between each of said nozzle means and each ofsaid sources for conveying said liquid from each of said sources to saidnozzle means;

valve means interposed between each of said conduits and said conductiveliquid sources;

separate conductive means positioned in said device for contacting saidliquid from each of said sources, said conductive means connected toopposite poles of a source of electric power, thereby to simultaneouslyenergize said liquid from each source thereof with a charge of oppositesign from that of the liquid from the other source thereof;

6 switch means adapted for connection to said source a pair of energizedliquid streams of opposite charge of electric power, said switch meanswhen closed beat said hostile person. in g adapted for operating saidsource of electric power thereby to energize said conductive meansReferences Cited and Said liquib l; n? t t d t 5 UNITED STATES PATENTSmanua y opera e ac ua1ng means connec e o sa1 valve means and adapted toactuate said switch means, said actuating means being adaptedselectively to simultaneously open said valve means and close ANTONOECHSLE Primary Examiner said switch means and to simultaneously closesaid 10 valve means and open said switch means, whereby RICHARD PINKHAMExaminer said device may be selectively operated to discharge W. R.BROWNE, Assistant Examiner.

